Leucanthemum plant named ‘Sunrimaizy’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Leucanthemum  plant named ‘Sunrimaizy’, characterized by its relatively compact, upright and mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; strong flowering stems; early and freely flowering habit; long flowering period; large semi-double to double-type inflorescences with white-colored ray florets and bright yellow-colored disc florets; no vernalization requirement for flowering; good garden performance and winter hardiness.

Botanical designation: Leucanthemum x superbum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNRIMAIZY’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Leucanthemum Plant Named ‘SUNRIMAIAPY’

Inventor: Scott C. Trees

Filed: Concurrently with the instant application

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Leucanthemum plant, botanically known as Leucanthemum x superbum and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunrimaizy’.

The new Leucanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Arroyo Grande, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Leucanthemum plants with a compact mounded habit, continuous flowering habit, numerous attractive inflorescences, no vernalization requirement for flowering, good garden performance and good winter hardiness.

The new Leucanthemum plant originated from an open-pollination in July, 2016 of Leucanthemum x superbum ‘White Magic’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,737, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Leucanthemum x superbum as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Leucanthemum plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled environment in Arroyo Grande, Calif. in July, 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Leucanthemum plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in Arroyo Grande, Calif., since July, 2017 has shown that the unique features of this new Leucanthemum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Leucanthemum have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sunrimaizy’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunrimaizy’ as a new and distinct Leucanthemum plant:

-   -   1. Relatively compact, upright and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Strong flowering stems.     -   4. Early and freely flowering habit; long flowering period.     -   5. Large semi-double to double-type inflorescences with         white-colored ray florets and bright yellow-colored disc         florets.     -   6. No vernalization requirement for flowering.     -   7. Good garden performance and winter hardiness.

Plants of the new Leucanthemum differ primarily from plants of the female parent, ‘White Magic’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Leucanthemum are more compact and mounding         than plants of ‘White Magic’.     -   2. Plants of the new Leucanthemum are more freely branching than         plants of ‘White Magic’.     -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Leucanthemum are darker green in         color than leaves of plants of ‘White Magic’.     -   4. Plants of the new Leucanthemum have semi-double to         double-type inflorescences whereas plants of ‘White Magic’ have         single-type inflorescences.     -   5. Plants of the new Leucanthemum flower more consistently and         longer than plants of ‘White Magic’.

Plants of the new Leucanthemum can be compared to plants of Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Sunrimaiapy’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Leucanthemum differs from plants of ‘Sunrimaiapy’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Leucanthemum are taller and have longer         internodes than plants of ‘Sunrimaiapy’.     -   2. Plants of the new Leucanthemum have larger leaves than plants         of ‘Sunrimaiapy’.     -   3. Plants of the new Leucanthemum have fewer inflorescences per         plant than plants of ‘Sunrimaiapy’.     -   4. Plants of the new Leucanthemum have semi-double to         double-type inflorescences whereas plants of ‘Sunrimaiapy’ have         single-type inflorescences.

Plants of the new Leucanthemum can be compared to plants of Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Crazy Daisy’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Leucanthemum differ from plants of ‘Crazy Daisy’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Leucanthemum are more compact and mounding         than plants of ‘Crazy Daisy’.     -   2. Plants of the new Leucanthemum have semi-double to         double-type inflorescences whereas plants of ‘Crazy Daisy’ have         double-type inflorescences.     -   3. Ray florets of plants of the new Leucanthemum are flatter and         not as twisting as ray florets of plants of ‘Crazy Daisy’.     -   4. Plants of the new Leucanthemum do not require vernalization         for flowering whereas plants of ‘Crazy Daisy’ require         vernalization for flowering.     -   5. Plants of the new Leucanthemum do not produce any detectable         fragrance whereas plants of ‘Crazy Daisy’ produce the pungent         and foul fragrance typical of Leucanthemum plants.

Plants of the new Leucanthemum can also be compared to plants of Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Becky’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Leucanthemum differ from plants of ‘Becky’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Leucanthemum have darker green-colored         leaves than plants of ‘Becky’.     -   2. Plants of the new Leucanthemum have semi-double to         double-type inflorescences whereas plants of ‘Becky’ have         semi-double type inflorescences.     -   3. Plants of the new Leucanthemum flower for a longer period of         time plants of ‘Becky’.     -   4. Plants of the new Leucanthemum do not require vernalization         for flowering whereas plants of ‘Becky’ require vernalization         for flowering.     -   5. Plants of the new Leucanthemum do not produce any detectable         fragrance whereas plants of ‘Becky’ produce the pungent and foul         fragrance typical of Leucanthemum plants.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Leucanthemum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Leucanthemum plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 ) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunrimaizy’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 ) is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunrimaizy’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in 1.5-gallon containers during the summer in an outdoor nursery in West Chicago, Ill. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Leucanthemum production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 24° C. and night temperatures averaged 18° C. Plants were pinched two times and were 25 weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Sunrimaizy’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Leucanthemum x superbum ‘White             Magic’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,737.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Leucanthemum x             superbum, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at             temperatures about 22° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 15 days at             temperatures about 16° C. to 18° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 35 to 40             days at temperatures about 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 50 to 60             days at temperatures about 16° C. to 18° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fleshy; typically             off-white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent             on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, dense; rapid root system             development. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; relatively             compact, upright and mounded plant habit; vigorous growth             habit; moderate growth rate; freely branching habit with             about eight to ten primary branches each with numerous             secondary branches developing per plant.         -   Plant height.—About 27.5 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 41 cm.         -   Branch description.—Length: About 24 cm. Diameter, at the             base: About 8 mm. Internode length: About 2 cm. Strength:             Strong. Aspect: Erect to about 45° from vertical. Texture             and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Color:             Close to 144A.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:             About 10.5 cm. Width: About 4 cm. Shape: Lanceolate to             oblong. Apex: Acute to sharply acute. Base: Attenuate.             Margin: Serrate. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Venation             pattern: Prominent midvein; pinnate. Color: Developing             leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A. Developing leaves,             lower surface: Close to 137A. Fully developed leaves, upper             surface: Close to 147A; venation, close to 146A. Fully             developed leaves, lower surface: Close to a blend of 147B             and 146A; venation, close to 146A to 146B. Petioles: Length:             About 3.2 cm. Width: About 6 mm. Texture and luster, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Large semi-double to double-type inflorescences             with ligulate-shaped ray florets and tubular disc florets;             inflorescences held upright on strong peduncles,             inflorescences face mostly upright; ray and disc florets             develop acropetally on a capitulum.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flowering response.—Plants begin flowering about twelve             weeks after planting; plants flower continuously from the             spring into the late summer in Northern Illinois.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good             substance for several weeks on the plant; inflorescences             persistent.         -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering habit, about 50             or more inflorescences develop per plant during the             flowering season.         -   Inflorescence size, semi-double inflorescences.—Diameter:             About 6.5 cm. Depth (height): About 2 cm. Disc diameter:             About 2 cm. Receptacle height: About 6 mm. Receptacle             diameter: About 1.2 cm. Receptacle color: Close to 144A to             144B.         -   Inflorescence size, double-type inflorescences.—Diameter:             About 6.5 cm. Depth (height): About 2.4 cm. Disc diameter:             About 1.2 cm, inconspicuous. Receptacle height: About 5 mm.             Receptacle diameter: About 1.5 cm. Receptacle color: Close             to 144A to 144B.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 7 mm. Diameter: About             1.3 cm. Shape: Flattened sphere. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Ray florets, semi-double inflorescences.—Quantity per             inflorescence: About 92 arranged in about three or four             whorls; interior to the ray florets, a single whorl of             smaller ray florets, about 25 to 30 in number. Length: About             2.9 cm. Width: About 7 mm. Shape: Ligulate. Apex: Acute,             emarginate or praemorse. Base: Attenuate; fused at the base             into a short tube. Margin: Entire; not undulate. Aspect:             Mostly flat to slightly twisting; smaller inner ray florets             are incurved and more twisting. Texture and luster, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; not rugose; matte.             Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close             to 149D; fused base, close to 144A; color becoming closer to             157D with subsequent development. When opening and fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 149D; fused base, close to             144A; color becoming closer to 157D with subsequent             development.         -   Ray florets, double-type inflorescences.—Quantity per             inflorescence: About 274 arranged in multiple whorls.             Length: About 3 cm. Width: About 6 mm to 7 mm. Shape:             Ligulate. Apex: Acute, emarginate or praemorse. Base:             Attenuate; fused at the base into a short tube. Margin:             Entire; not undulate. Aspect: Mostly flat to slightly             twisting; smaller inner ray florets are incurved. Texture             and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; not             rugose; matte. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 149D; fused base, close to 144A; color             becoming closer to 157D with subsequent development. When             opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 149D;             fused base, close to 144A; color becoming closer to 157D             with subsequent development.         -   Disc florets, semi-double and double-type             inflorescences.—Quantity per inflorescence, semi-double             inflorescences: About 275 massed at the center of the             receptacle arranged in numerous whorls. Quantity per             inflorescence, double-type inflorescences: About 64 massed             at the center of the receptacle arranged in several variable             whorls; inconspicuous. Length: About 8 mm. Diameter:             Proximally, about 1 mm and distally, about 1.5 mm. Shape:             Fused tubular with apices free. Apex: Acute, five-pointed.             Texture and luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, when opening and fully             opened, inner surface: Apex: Darker than 12A. Mid-section             and base: Close to 144A.         -   Involucral bracts, semi-double and double-type             inflorescences.—Quantity per inflorescence, semi-double             inflorescences: About 48 arranged in about two to three             whorls. Quantity per inflorescence, double-type             inflorescences: About 72 arranged in about two to three             whorls. Length: About 1.1 cm. Width: About 2.5 mm to 3 mm.             Shape: Oblong. Apex: Acute with obtuse tendencies. Base:             Fused to the base of the receptacle. Margin: Entire,             membraneous. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; somewhat glossy. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 144A.         -   Peduncles, semi-double and double-type             inflorescences.—Length: About 24 cm. Diameter, at the base:             About 8 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright to about 45°             from vertical. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             moderately glossy. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs, semi-double and double-type             inflorescences.—Androecium: Present on disc florets only.             Quantity per floret: Five per disc floret. Filament length:             About 7 mm. Filament color: Close to 145C to 145D. Anther             shape: Roughly oblong. Anther length: Less than 1 mm. Anther             color: Close to 10A. Pollen amount: None observed.             Gynoecium: Present on ray and disc florets. Quantity per             floret: One. Pistil length: About 5 mm. Stigma diameter:             Less than 1 mm. Stigma shape: Bi-parted. Stigma color: Close             to 12A to 12B. Style length: About 4 mm. Style color: Close             to 154D. Ovary color: Close to 145C.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Leucanthemum. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Leucanthemum     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Leucanthemum plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Leucanthemum have been     observed to have good garden performance, no requirement for     vernalization and to tolerate wind and rain, to suitable for USDA     Hardiness Zones 5 to 11. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Leucanthemum plant named ‘Sunrimaizy’ as illustrated and described. 